How West Jordan Handles Building Safety: A Practical Guide

West Jordan maintains 120 local ordinances across all categories, and 5 of those deal specifically with building safety. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where West Jordan falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Plumbing Permits

West Jordan requires all plumbing work, from installation to repair, replacement, and relocation, to follow the entire 2015 International Plumbing Code, adopted wholesale under section 10-1-5. The Building and Safety Division reviews and inspects plumbing work as the code's designated "administrative authority" and "Department of Plumbing Inspection."

Key details: Code adopted: 2015 International Plumbing Code, § 10-1-5. Appendix adopted: Appendix B (rainfall rates). Administrative authority: Building and Safety Division. Penalty: Class B misdemeanor, § 10-2-3. Copy on file: City Recorder's Office.

Failing to comply with the adopted International Plumbing Code is a Class B misdemeanor under section 10-2-3, with each day of a continuing plumbing-code violation charged as a separate offense. The Building and Safety Division may suspend or delay action on a plumbing permit if the owner refuses to allow a required inspection, per section 10-2-1(D).

Electrical Permits

West Jordan requires electrical work to follow the entire 2014 National Electrical Code, adopted under section 10-1-6 to safeguard persons and property from electrical hazards. The Building and Safety Division enforces the code, and a certified copy plus its conductor fill-table appendix are kept on file at the City Recorder's Office for public review.

Key details: Code adopted: 2014 National Electrical Code, § 10-1-6. Appendix adopted: Appendix C (conduit/tubing fill tables). Enforcing agency: Building and Safety Division. Penalty: Class B misdemeanor, § 10-2-3. Copy on file: City Recorder's Office.

Electrical work that does not comply with the adopted National Electrical Code is a Class B misdemeanor under section 10-2-3, and each day the violation continues is treated as a separate offense. The city may enforce through civil action, criminal prosecution, or both, at its discretion, under section 10-2-4.

Building Inspections

West Jordan requires builders who need a city inspection outside normal hours, Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., to file a written application at least 24 hours in advance with the applicable department's executive assistant. Section 8-1-4 requires the inspection fee to be paid when the application is submitted, before the work is scheduled.

Key details: Normal hours: Mon-Fri, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.. Advance notice: At least 24 hours before work begins. Fee timing: Paid with the application, not after. Late applications: Not honored if under 24 hours. Citation: West Jordan City Code §§ 8-1-2 through 8-1-5.

Starting or continuing work that needs a city inspection outside the 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekday window without an approved, paid nonbusiness-hours application violates chapter 1 of Title 8. Because the chapter is framed around city infrastructure and inspection access rather than a stand-alone fine, the practical consequence is that inspectors will not attend, work can be held up pending inspection, and the applicable department can decline to accept late paperwork outright.

Green Building Code

West Jordan's answer to a green building code is section 10-1-8, which adopts the entire 2015 International Energy Conservation Code as the controlling energy-efficiency standard for construction citywide. The city has not layered on a separate green-building ordinance beyond this IECC adoption, and newer state-enacted editions automatically replace it without additional council action.

Key details: Code adopted: 2015 International Energy Conservation Code. Citation: § 10-1-8. Separate green ordinance: None beyond the IECC adoption. Enforcing agency: Building and Safety Division. Penalty: Class B misdemeanor, § 10-2-3.

Construction that does not meet the adopted 2015 International Energy Conservation Code is treated the same as any other adopted-code violation under title 10, chapter 1: a Class B misdemeanor under section 10-2-3, with each day of continued noncompliance a separate offense, enforceable civilly or criminally under section 10-2-4.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find West Jordan gives residents more flexibility on green building code.

Building Permits

West Jordan requires compliance with the entire 2015 International Building Code, adopted wholesale by city ordinance and controlling for any construction, alteration, or occupancy change within city limits. The Building and Safety Division enforces the code, inspects work in progress, and can suspend permit action if an owner refuses entry for inspection.

Key details: Code adopted: 2015 International Building Code. Enforcing agency: Building and Safety Division. Penalty: Class B misdemeanor, § 10-2-3. Corporate fine cap: $5,000 per offense. Appeals body: 5-member Board of Building Appeals.

Failing to comply with any code adopted under title 10, chapter 1, including the IBC, is a Class B misdemeanor under section 10-2-3, and each day a violation continues is a separate offense. Corporations and other artificial persons face a fine of up to $5,000.00 per Class B misdemeanor conviction under section 1-14B-1. The city may pursue civil or criminal enforcement, or both, under section 10-2-4, at its discretion.

The Bottom Line

West Jordan's building safety rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming West Jordan is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from West Jordan's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.